You don't have to be magical to manage Nottingham Forest, but it probably helps.

Dougie Freedman, appointed last week as the sixth manager in just two-and-a-half years of Fawaz Al-Hasawi ownership at the City Ground, stressed upon arrival that he was 'no miracle worker'.

And on Saturday night at the Amex Stadium, despite a debut win, the Scot took great pains to dampen expectations again, saying: 'I'm no magician, I can't just snap my fingers' and make the team's myriad problems vanish.

Nottingham Forest secured a 3-2 win over Brighton and currently sit 12th in the Sky Bet Championship

New Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman says he is 'no miracle worker' after his side beat Brighton

Forest defender Danny Collins watches on as he waits for the ball to nestle into the Brighton net

This is a grand club of great expectations and limited patience. Of late, you have needed magic powers just to stay in a job.

Henri Lansbury conjured a driven free-kick for 2-1 and Chris Burke's dazzling run teed up Ben Osborn for the crucial third.

A late response from Brighton debutant Beram Kayal had Freedman on edge but Forest clung on to hint at better times ahead.

'I've just turned up, I don't know what's been off with them,' said Freedman. 'But to get back to winning ways is nice for the players and the travelling fans.'

Asked if Forest could bridge the 13-point gap to the playoffs, the new boss was cautious: 'I've still got the same mindset as last week. I'm still looking over my shoulder. It's unrealistic for me to give you headlines like that.'

Freedman's arrival has given renewed hope for some of the squad's forgotten men such as defender Collins, who didn't play once under Pearce.

The 34-year-old former Sunderland and Stoke player had become more accustomed to spending Saturdays in the company of Jeff Stelling than his team-mates.

'I've been training Monday to Friday, getting weekends off and watching Soccer Saturday,' he said. 'It's not enjoyable, it's the first time in my career it's happened.

Midfielder Henri Lansbury celebrates in front of the traveling away fans following his goal against Brighton

Chris Burke tussles for the ball with Brighton's Joe Bennet during the Sky Bet Championship match

'The team-sheet goes up on the board on a Friday and you're still hoping your name is going to be there. Stuart saw other lads above me in the pecking order.

'Dougie named the team yesterday and I was surprised to be up there. To repay him by getting a goal on half-time was vital.'

For Brighton, who have won just three times at the Amex in the league and sit two points above the drop zone, it was another wasted opportunity.

Chris Hughton's men were much the better team before the break but were ultimately let down by their fragility from set-pieces. Kayal's scoring debut was at least a positive.

'We have good players, a great squad, a great staff, so we have everything to come here and not just play nice football, but win these games,' said the Israeli, signed from Celtic last month.

'But I will take playing badly and winning, especially in the position we are in right now.'